Becker Medical Library is delighted to share our most recent addition to the rare book collections! A copy of the Edo-period ophthalmologist Dojun Nakanome’s text Ganmoku Shinron; Kokon seisen mokubyo shinron, or Selected True Ophthalmology of All Times, printed in 1850.
The end of World War II brought elation for some. The staff and patients of the 21st General Hospital, the US Army reserve hospital staffed by members of the Washington University medical community, were almost certainly among those in celebration. The personnel of the 21st had served continuously since 1942 and shared an immense relief [Read more]
Today we are highlighting twenty-three medical illustrations dating from 1929-39. These beautiful black and white and full-color illustrations are by Aphrodite J. Hofsommer, MD, one of the first female graduates of Washington University School of Medicine. The drawings were donated by her son-in-law, Robert Glaser, and are now part of the Robert J. Glaser Photographs [Read more]
Bernard Becker Medical Library is fortunate to have robust collections in archives and rare books that document the history of medicine from the late 15th century up to the present. Subjects in which the library’s holdings are particularly strong include ophthalmology and optics, neurology, deaf education, and the history of dentistry. In order to encourage [Read more]
Becker Library’s Archives and Rare Books Division will host the Annual Display of Rare Anatomical Texts for the first time in virtual format on Friday, Dec. 4, from 2-3 p.m. Registration is not required. Simply join us on Zoom at the time of the event! Add to calendar. This popular annual exhibition is a unique opportunity to see a [Read more]
Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, medical practice was based on the theory of the four humors. The humors—blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm—were fluids that moved through the body and needed to remain in balance in order to maintain health. There were a number of things that could disrupt this balance, including [Read more]
As part of our ongoing effort to bring our collections to you virtually as we all practice social distancing, we’ve created a series of online puzzles featuring images from Becker Library’s archival and rare book collections. See the images and links to their puzzles below. Helpful tips: Select your puzzle from the options below – [Read more]
These are unprecedented times. For many, if not most of us, the past several weeks have been marked by anxiety and uncertainty. While this experience is far from pleasant, it is also deeply human. The course of human history has never run smoothly, and each century has seen its share of disasters. The 16th century [Read more]
For more than a year now, Becker Library has hosted First Fridays @ Becker, a monthly Archives and Rare Books Division open house featuring items from its amazing collections. This has allowed our staff to do one of their favorite things – show people neat stuff. While in-person First Friday monthly events are canceled [Read more]
The following is a guest post from Abbie Schaefer, a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville completing an archives practicum at Becker Library. She will graduate in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in historical studies and a specialization in applied historical methods, with minors in anthropology and music performance. Her undergraduate research focused on the [Read more]